Combined cotton-chopper



(No Model.) 4Sheets-Sheet; 1. J. H. ROBINSON.

COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER, HARROW, AND OULTIVATOR. No. 371,790. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

(No Model.) 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. H. ROBINSON.

COMBINED COTTON UHOPPBR, HARROW, AND GULTIVATOR. No. 371,790[ Patented 0013.18, 1887 mmmwnmm" I Eh T 1-1p Gr "m d I r WW5 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(N9 Mode 1.)

J. H. ROBINSON.

COMBINED OOTTON CHOPPER, HARROW, AND OULTIVATOR. No. 371,790. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. H. ROBINSON COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER, HARROW, AND GULTIVATOR.

wane/0020 3441) ante c operative position.

llNTTnn STATES PATENT UFMCEQ JOHN H. ROBINSON, OF CALVERT, TEXAS.

COMBINE COTTON-CHOPPER, HARROW, AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,790, dated October is, 1887.

Application filed May 31, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J GEN H. RoBINsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Calvert, in the county of Robertson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Cotton-Choppers, Harrows, and Cultivators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved combined cotton-chopper, harrow, and cultivator, showing the chopper, rotary harrow, and plows arranged in their operative positions. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the plows raised and supported out of their Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. i is a vertical sectional view taken on line 00 0c of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in the said View. Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view taken on line y 3/ of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2 'z of Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in an improved combined cotton-chopper, harrow, and cultivator, either of which may be used separately, or the three may be employed together, or any two can be used at the same time; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A Indicates the axle ofmy combined cotton-chopper, harrow, and cultivator, and B B indicate the main supporting-wheels on the outer ends of the same, theleft-handwheelB being keyed fast on that end of the axle, so as to turn with the same, while the right-hand wheel B is loosely mounted on its end of the axle, this arrangement of the supportingwheels enabling the machine to be turned with ease in a con1- paratively small space. On the middle part of this axle is supported the rear end of the inner box-frame, C, the central part of the Serial No. 239,739. (No model.)

axle passing through apertures in the side pieces of the said frame at the rear end of the same, so that the boxframe can move or turn on the axle, for the purpose hereinafter specifled. On each side of this box-frame are pivotally mounted the rear ends of the outer loop frame, D, to. the forward end of which are securely bolted the tongue E and the arms F F, to the outwardly'curving rear ends of whic are pivoted the singletrees G G.

Upon the middle part of the main axle A, to the left of the center thereof, but within the side pieces of the box-frame C, is rigidly keyed a miter or bevel whee], I*I,whieh meshes with the teeth of a similar miter or bevel wheel, I, which is rigidly keyed on the rear end of a shaft, J, which is journaled longitudinally in bearings in the box-frame C; and immediately in front of this bevel-wheel I is rigidly keyed on the shaft J a large gear-wheel, K, and in front of that a miter or bevel wheel, L, asshown. This large gearwheel K meshes with a smaller geanwheel, M, of one-half of its diameter, which is rigidly mounted 011 the rear portion of a shaft, N, which is journaled longitudinally in the lower part of the box-frame C below the shaft J, and the forward end of this lower horizontal shaft, N, extends in advance of the forward end of the box-frame C, and has removably secured on its forward end the cottonchopper consisting of the four radial arms, N, having at their outer ends the cutting-blades P, these blades being preferably of the form shown. This cottonchopper is held in operative position on the shouldered threaded forward end of the lower shaft, N, by means of the nut Q, and by unscrewing this nut the chopper may be readily removed when not required for use.

011 the outer sides of the box-frame C, at the rear end thereof, and just below the main axle, are pivotally secured the rear ends of the ad justable slides or gagesR R, which are formed near theeenter of their length with the upwardly-bent loop portion S, and the forward ends of which extend forward in advance of the cotton-chopper, and are there bent in and then down at right angles, while their lower extremities are bent and rounded back, so as to slide easily over the ground when resting 10o upon the same. Set-screws T pass through the loop portions S into the sides of the boxframe, and by loosening these screws the forward free ends of the slides or gages may be raised or lowered and secured in their adjusted position, and it will be seen that, as the forward downwardly-bent ends of the said slides rest upon the ground, by raising or lowering the said ends the cotton-chopper may be adj usted, being raised when the forward ends of the gages are lowered, and lowered when the said ends are raised, as will be readily seen.

The operator or driver walks behind the machine, and the upper rear end of the boxframe 0 is provided with the upwardly and rearwardly extending handles U,and a weight, V, is suspended from the right-hand. handle and serves to balance the weight of the forward part of the machine, so that the driver can swing down the handles with ease, and thus raise the hoes or chopper-blades to clear any obstacle in the row or avoid cutting any particular plant.

The forward miter or bevel wheel, L, on the upper shaft, J, meshes with the teeth of a similar bevel-wheel, W, which is secured by a set-screw, 10, upon the upper end of a vertical shaft, A, which is supported in verticallyadjustable bearings 13 G, the upper ends of these hearings being formed with the vertical slots D,through which and the sides of the box-casing C'pass the bolts E, having the nuts F on their threaded inner ends, and it will be seen that by loosening these nuts the bearingplates B and O can be raised to take up wear between the bevel-wheels W and L, as will be readily understood, and this construction adds to the convenience with which the said parts can be put together. Upon the lower shouldered and threaded end of this upright shaft A is Secured the circular harrow H, having the series J of downwardly-projecting teeth K, and this circular harrow is held in position on the lower end of the shaft A by the nut K", by removing which the harrow can be removed when not required for use.

Upon the main axle A, outside of the rear ends of the loop-frame D, are pivotally or movabl y mounted the bearings or collars L L, between the rear ends of which are pivoted on a vertical pivot the forward ends of the plow-beams M N, the two beams on each side of the machine being preferably formed of .a single heavy metal band, which is bent double near its center to form a bearing, through which the said vertical pivot-pin passes, while the rear free ends of the two beams thus formed diverge, the outer beam of the pair being the longest and extending back beyond the inner beam.

To the rear'ends of both the outerand inner beams, M and N, are pivotally secured the upper ends of the double standards, which extend forward and downward and have removably'secured upon their lower ends the shovel-blades O; or these blades may be removed when desired and turning-plows substituted; and inclined braces P are pivotally securedat their upper ends to the plow-beams, and theirlower ends or parts, which are formed with the series of transverse apertures Q, extend down through the double standards; and wooden break'pins R extend through apertures in the double standards and through any one of the said apertures in the inclined braces, so that the plows can be adjusted by passing-the said pins through any of the said series of apertures, and the said wooden pins will break under any unusually heavy strain on the blades and prevent the blades or standards from becoming broken. Upon the inner side of the inner plows are secured the shields S, as shown. Eachpair of plows is provided with a handle, T, which is strengthened by the upright brace U, and to each of the said braces is secured an eye, W, extending inward, and in each of the said eyes is hooked the outer end of a flat bar, A the inner ends of the said bars overlapping and extendingthrough a sleeve, B, which is provided with a set-screw, 0 by tightening which the inner ends of the said bars are secured in their adjusted positions. Now it will be seen that in operation both of the plows can be raised by their handles so as to clear an obstruction, as their collars L L turn freely on the axle, and either plow may be raised separately independently, owing to the pivotal or hooked coupling formed between the pairs of plows by the bars A and the eyes W of the braces U, while the coupling at the forward end of the plow-beams permits of the plows being moved laterally from side to side. The space between the plows may be adjusted by loosening the set-screw O and moving the bars A in or out and securing them in their adjusted position by tightening the said screw.

In operation the machine is drawn forward by the horses, and as themain axle A is rotated by the left-hand supporting-wheel, B, its central miter or bevel wheel, H, meshing with the rear miter or bevel wheel, I, of the upper longitudinal shaft, J, rotates the said shaft with its large gear-wheel K and forward bevel-wheel, L, and this gear-wheel K in turn revolves rapidly the smaller gearwheel M, and through it the lower horizontal shaft, N, which carries at its forward end the cotton-chopper, and the chopper is thus rapidly revolved, so that its four hoes or cutting-blades P chop or out the cotton-plants and leave it at a satisfactory distance, and the height from the ground at which the chopperblades operate may be readily adjusted by means of the adjustable slides or gagesR R, as before described, lowering the forward ends of the slides or gages to raise the chopper and raising them to-lower the chopper. At the same time that the chopper is thus being opthe chopper-blades by the lowering of the forward ends of the slides or gages R R, the rotary harrow can then be lowered, so as to continue to perform effective work, by loosening the set-screw w and raising the bevel-wheel W. for a short distance upon the upper end of the vertical shaft A, or rather by drawing down the said shaft, so that the harrow H will be lowered, while the bevel-wheel 'W continues to mesh with the bevel-wheel L. When it is not desired to use the plows, they can be swung up or raised into the elevated position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and held in that position by hooking the hooks E on the outer side of their handles over the rear ends of rods F, which extend back and upward from the rear sides of the loop-frame D. WVhen the plows are to be used, however, the said hooks are freed from the rods F and the plows are swung down into operative position, as shown in Fig. 1 and other Views of the drawings, with the exception of Fig. 2. The plows can be raised together or separately, as described, and can also be moved laterally from side to side. After the cotton plants have been chopped, the chopper can be removed and the rotary harrow employed as often as required, and the plows can be used at the same time to cultivate between the rows, and the harrow can then be removed and the plows alone employed. The cotton-chopper, rotary harrow, and plows can be all three employed together, or any two can be used together, or any one alone.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

It will be seen that my improved combined cotton chopper, harrow, and cultivator is comparatively simple and strong in construction, convenient to handle and adjust, and very efficient in its operation. It combines the three implements describedthe cottonchopper, the rotary harrow, and the plows or eultivator-in a small and compact body. The several parts can be readily and easily adjusted, and any one or two of the devices can be removed or thrown out of operation in a moment when desired.

Having thus described my invention. what jecting end of the said lower shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the revolving main "axle having the central bevelwvheel, the box framcor easing pivotal] y mounted at its rear end upon thesaid axle,the uppershaft mounted within the said casing and having the rear bevel-wheel and the large gear-wheel, the lower shaft having the gear-wheel near its rear end, the cotton-chopper removably secured upon the forward end of the said lower shaft, and the pivoted adjustable guides or gages, substantial] y as set forth.

3. The combination of the revolving main axle having the central bevel-wheel, the box frame or casing pivotally mounted at its rear end upon the said axle and having the rearwardlyprojecting handles, the weight, the upper shaft having the rear bevel-wheel and the largegearwheel, the lowershaft having the gear-wheel near its rear end, and the cottonchopper removably secured upon the forward end of the said lower shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the revolving main axle having the central bevel-wheel, the box frame or casing pivotally mounted at its rear end upon the said axle and having the rear- Wardly-projecting handles, the weight, the upper shaft having the rear bevel-wheel and the large gearwvheel, the lower shaft having the gear-wheel near its rear end, the cotton-chopper removably secured upon the forward end of the said lower shaft, and the pivoted adjustable side guides or gages, all substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the revolving main axle having the central bevel wheel, the box frame or casing pivotally mounted at its rear end upon the said axle, the uppershaft mou nted within the said casing and having the rear and forward bevelwheels and the large gearwheel, the lower horizontal shaft having the gear-wheel near its rear end and adapted to carry the cotton-chopper removably secured von the forward end thereof, the pivoted adj ustable guides or gages, and the adjustable upright shaft having the bevel-wheel secured by the set-screw upon its upper end and adapted to carry the harrow removably secured on the lower end thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the main axle, of the bearing-collars movably mounted on the said axle, the plow-beams pivoted at their forward ends-in the said bearings, the plowstandards having the blades at their lower ends, the inclined braces, the handles having the upright braces provided with the inwardlyprojecting eyes, the comiccting-bars having the hooked outer ends, and the sleeve having the binding or set screw, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the main axle, of the loop-frame pivotally mounted at its rear ends upon the said axle and having the rear- IIO Wardly-projeeting rods, the bearing'collars movably mounted on the said axle, the plows having their beams pivoted at their forward ends in the said bearings, and having the han- 5 dles provided with the hooks on their outer sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

J AS. J. LAUDERDALE,

J AS. ALLARD. 

